Network system of data communication

ABSTRACT

A data communication network system comprises: a data receiving layer which comprises data communication terminals (DCT), a route layer which comprises routers. Each of the routers receives data from the DCTs or from other router  50  of the route layer. The network system further comprise a data receiving layer which comprising a receiver, which receives the data from the routers.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to networkdeployment, and more specifically to a network system of datacommunication.

2. Description of Related Art

Nowadays, wireless communication devices based on the ZigBeespecification are widely used in industrial device monitoring and datacommunication fields. The ZigBee specification is for a suite of highlevel communication protocols using small, low-power digital radiosbased on the IEEE 802.15.4-2003 standard. The ZigBee specification isintended for use in embedded applications requiring low data rates andlow power consumption.

A traditional network system of communicating data using wirelesscommunication devices based on the ZigBee specification adopts a layer 2network topology, as shown in FIG. 1. The layer 2 network topologyincludes a router layer 1 and a data receiving layer 2. The router layer1 consists of special data communication terminals (SDCTs) 10. The SDCT10 have both routing and data communication functions. The datareceiving layer 2 includes a receiver 20. The receiver 20 can receivedata from the SDCTs 10 by hardwired connection or wirelessly.

The current layer 2 network topology has the following disadvantages:

1. If an SDCT serving as an important routing node breaks down (powergoes down, for example), the SDCT cannot send data to the receiver 20,due to both routing and data communication functions are integrated inthe SDCT, and other SDCTs also cannot send data to the receiver 20 dueto the routing node break down.2. An SDCT has a high price, thus, the layer 2 network topology has ahigh cost.3. Possible transmission distance is short.4. Data communicating is easily disturbed by a barrier 3.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a traditional network system of datacommunication.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a new network system ofdata communication.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The application is illustrated by way of examples and not by way oflimitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which likereferences indicate similar elements. It should be noted that referencesto “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily tothe same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a new network system 100of data communication based on the ZigBee specification . In oneembodiment, the network system 100 adopts a layer 3 network topology,including a data acquiring layer 4, a route layer 5, and a datareceiving layer 6 all in wireless or hardwired communication with eachother.

The data receiving layer 4 includes a plurality of data communicationterminals (DCTs) 40, each of which supports the ZigBee specification. Inone embodiment, each DCT 40 is installed in an industrial device (notshown in FIG. 2) of a production field at a factory. Each DCT 40 has adata communication function, but has no routing function. Each DCT 40acquires data from the industrial device, and sends the data to theroute layer 5 by hardwired connection or wirelessly.

The route layer 5 includes a plurality of routers 50, each of whichsupports the ZigBee specification. Each router 50 is placed at alocation above the industrial device holding the DCT 40. The locationmay be a beam of the production field. In one embodiment, a distancebetween every two routers 50 may be about 30 meters, for example. Eachrouter 50 receives the data from the DCTs 40 or from other router 50,computes a communication route for the data using a routing algorithmaccording to the ZigBee specification, and sends the data via thecommunicating route. In one embodiment, two or more of the routers 50can receive data from the same one DCT 40 or the same one other router50 at the same time.

The data receiving layer 6 includes a receiver 60. In one embodiment,the receiver 60 includes an Ethernet interface and a radio networkinterface. The receiver 60 connects to an Ethernet server 7 via theEthernet interface by hardwired connection, and wirelessly communicateswith each of the routers 50 via the radio network interface. Thereceiver 60 is placed at a location which is higher than the DCTs 40.The location may be high up in the production field, such as mounted tothe ceiling, for example.

Although certain inventive embodiments of the present disclosure havebeen specifically described, the present disclosure is not to beconstrued as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications maybe made to the present disclosure without departing from the scope andspirit of the present disclosure.

1. A data communication network system, comprising: a data receivinglayer comprising a plurality of data communication terminals (DCTs); aroute layer comprising a plurality of routers, each of the routersreceiving data from the DCTs or from the other routers of the routelayer; and a data receiving layer comprising a receiver, which receivesthe data from the routers.
 2. The network system as described in claim1, wherein each of the routers computes a communicating route using arouting algorithm according to the ZigBee specification after receivingthe data, and sends the data with the receiver via the communicatingroute.
 3. The network system as described in claim 1, wherein thereceiver comprises an Ethernet interface and a radio network interface.4. The network system as described in claim 3, wherein the receiverconnects to an Ethernet server via the Ethernet interface by hardwareconnection, and communicates with the routers via the radio networkinterface by wireless.
 5. The network system as described in claim 1,wherein each of the DCTs is installed in an industrial device of aproduction field at a factory.
 6. The network system as described inclaim 5, wherein each of the routers is placed at a location above theindustrial device holding the DCT.
 7. The network system as described inclaim 6, wherein the location is a beam of the production field.
 8. Thenetwork system as described in claim 5, wherein the receiver is placedon a location that is higher than the DCTs.
 9. The network system asdescribed in claim 8, wherein the location of placing the receiver ishigh up in the production field.